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Playoff shakeups open door for three new Super 25 teams; plus change in Top 5

The Center Grove Trojans celebrate after winning semi-state against Ben Davis at Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Center Grove advances to state finals next week at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Center Grove Trojans celebrate after winning semi-state against Ben Davis at Ben Davis on Friday. Center Grove advances to state final next week at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo: Indianapolis Star).

Playoff losses to Super 25-ranked teams opened the door to three new Super 25 teams: No. 23 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.); No. 24 North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) and No. 25 Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.).

RELATED: Latest Super 25 football rankings

American Heritage improved to 11-0 as it held off Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 10-7 in a 5A-Region 4 semifinal on Friday as running back Miles Jones ran for 101 yards.

North Penn’s Nick Dillon ran for three touchdowns in a 42-25 defeat of Coatesville in a 6A Region 1 semifinal. The Knights could face No. 13 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) in a 6A semifinal in two weeks if both teams win quarterfinal games this week.

Center Grove has the potential to win back-to-back state titles. Running back Russ Yeast ran for four touchdowns in a 42-22 defeat of Ben Davis (Indianapolis) in a 6A semifinal on Friday. The Trojans (12-1) play Carmel for the state title on Friday.

In other significant moves, 11-0 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) dropped a spot to No. 3 after it had to come from behind with 16 points in the fourth quarter to win 16-6 at three-loss Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, Va.), a team that hadn’t played in nearly a month.

That allowed 12-0 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), which defeated Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 63-30 in a CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinal, to move up to No. 2.  Mater Dei faces Rancho Cucamonga in the semifinals after it eliminated Mission Viejo, which was ranked No. 25 and had a 39-game winning streak.

Three teams dropped out of the Super 25 with playoff defeats: No. 19 Kahuku (Hawaii); No. 21 Jenks (Okla.); and Mission Viejo, Calif.

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